Public Events at the Library of Congress

All Library buildings are closed for the federal New Year’s Day holiday.

Jan. 10

Tuesday

BOOK TALK

Col. James Kasler, America’s first triple Air Force Medal recipient and Vietnam prisoner of war, discusses his biography, "Tempered Steel," with his biographers Perry Luckett and Charles Byler, at noon in the West Dining Room. Contact: 707-5034.

Jan. 10

Tuesday

BOOKS & BEYOND

Mystery writer Dana Stabenow discusses her book "Blindfold Game" in a program sponsored by the Center for the Book and the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, at 6 p.m. in the Montpelier Room. Contact: 707-5221.

Jan. 11

Wednesday

GALLERY TALK

Jacqueline Coleburn of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division discusses children’s literature in the 18th and 19th centuries at noon in the "American Treasures" exhibition, Southwest Gallery of the Jefferson Building. Contact: 707-9203.

Jan. 12

Thursday

KLUGE CENTER

Steve Suitts discusses his book "Hugo Black of Alabama: How His Roots and Early Career Shaped the Great Champion of the Constitution" in a program cosponsored by the Supreme Court Historical Society, at 4 p.m. in LJ 119. Contact: 707-3302.

Jan. 16

Monday

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

All Library buildings are closed for the federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Jan. 18

Wednesday

GALLERY TALK

Gerard Gawalt of the Manuscript Division leads a tour through the "Benjamin Franklin: In His Own Words" exhibit at noon in the "American Treasures" exhibition, Southwest Gallery of the Jefferson Building. Contact: 707- 9203.

Jan. 18

Wednesday

CONCERT TALK

The American Folklife Center, in conjunction with the symposium "The Lomax Legacy: Folklore in a Globalizing Century," presents a program celebrating the life and music of Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton and the release of "Jelly Roll Morton - The Complete Library of Congress Recordings by Alan Lomax" (Rounder Records), with writer John Szwed and pianist Dave Burrell, at noon in the Coolidge Auditorium. No tickets are required. Contact: 707-5510.

Jan. 18-20

Wednesday-Friday

SYMPOSIUM

The American Folklife Center, in cooperation with the Association for Cultural Equity, presents a three-day symposium, "The Lomax Legacy: Folklore in a Globalizing Century," at 9 a.m. in the Mumford Room. Today, following the American Folklife Center program, the film "Oss Oss Wee Oss" is shown at 7 p.m. On Jan. 19, sessions are "The Lomax Collection, the Alan Lomax Database," "Equity and Cultural Policy," "Intellectual Property Rights in a Globalizing World" and "Min(d)ing the Past: Tales from the Field," followed by a concert with Judith Cohen, Solomon Carey and the National Chorus of the Church of God and Saints of Christ. On Jan. 20, sessions are "Cantometrics, Choreometrics and Scholarly Trends Today" and "Dissemination: The Internet, Broadcasting and Recordings." Reservations for no more than two seats per call are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis by calling 707-1743, e-mailing Thea Austen at taus@loc.gov or visiting www.loc.gov/folklife/lomax/lomaxlegacy.html.

Jan. 21

Saturday

EXHIBITION CLOSES

"Bound for Glory: America in Color, 1939-1943" closes today in the South Gallery of the Great Hall. Contact: 707-4604.

Jan. 23

Monday

LECTURE

Editorial cartoonist Jean "Plantu" Plantureux, whose art has illustrated the front page of "Le Monde" since 1985, discusses and demonstrates the French tradition of political cartoons in a program sponsored by the European and Prints and Photographs divisions, along with the Alliance Francaise de Washington, at noon in LJ 119. Contact: 707-8485.

Jan. 24

Tuesday

LECTURE

Jeffrey Malka, author of "Sephardic Geneaology," discusses "Sephardic Names from Biblical Times Until the Present: Resources for Sephardic Genealogy," at noon in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-9897.

Jan. 25

Wednesday

GALLERY TALK

Ginny Mason and Ed Redmond of the Geography and Map Division lead a tour through the "Maps in Our Lives" exhibition at noon in the Geography and Map corridor.

Contact: 707-9203.

Jan. 27

Friday

BOOKS & BEYOND

Jeffrey Matthews discusses his new biography, "Alanson B. Houghton: Ambassador of the New Era," in a program sponsored by the Center for the Book and the European Division, at noon in Dining Room A. Contact: 707-5221.

Jan. 31

Tuesday

BOOKS & BEYOND

Nicolas Basbanes discusses his new book, "Every Book Its Reader: The Power of the Printed Word to Stir the World," in a program sponsored by the Center for the Book and the D.C. Library Association, at 6 p.m. in the Montpelier Room. Contact: 707-5221.

FEBRUARY 2006

Feb. 1

Wednesday

GALLERY TALK

Leonard Bruno of the Manuscript Division discusses Samuel F.B. Morse and the development of the telegram at noon in the "American Treasures" exhibition, Southwest Gallery of the Jefferson Building. Contact: 707-9203.

Feb. 2

Thursday

KLUGE CENTER

James Hutson discusses his book "The Founders on Religion: A Book of Quotations," at noon in LJ 119. Contact: 707-3302.

Feb. 2

Thursday

CONCERT

The chamber music of Roger Reynolds is featured in tonight’s concert at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required for this event; they are distributed by Ticketmaster at (301) 808-6900 or (410) 752-1200 and are limited to two per call. Each ticket carries a service charge of $2.75, with additional charges for phone orders and handling. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster.com. Although the supply of tickets may be exhausted, there are often empty seats at concert time. Interested patrons are encouraged to try for standby seats at the will-call desk in the Jefferson Building by 6:30 p.m. on concert evenings. Contact: 707-5502.

Feb. 3

Friday

PRE-CONCERT TALK

Robin Rausch of the Library’s Music Division makes a pre-concert presentation at 6:15 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. No tickets are required for this event.

Contact: 707-5502.

Feb. 3

Friday

CONCERT

Winner of the Yehudi Menuhin First Prize at the 2000 London International String Quartet Competition, Cuarteto Casals plays works by Mozart, Arriaga and Zemlinksy, at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See Feb. 2 concert entry for contact and ticket information.

Feb. 7

Tuesday

LECTURE

Elizabeth Smith Brownstein discusses her book "Lincoln’s Other White House: The Untold Story of the Man and His Presidency" in a program sponsored by the Humanities and Social Sciences Division, at noon in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-0947.

Feb. 7

Tuesday

LECTURE

Director Elliot Berlin discusses and shows clips from his film "Paper Clips" in a program sponsored by the Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division, at 12:30 p.m. in Dining Room A. Contact: 707-9897.

Feb. 8

Wednesday

GALLERY TALK

Georgia Higley of the Serial and Government Publications Division speaks on Tarzan comics at noon in the "American Treasures" exhibition, Southwest Gallery of the Jefferson Building. Contact: 707- 9203.

Feb. 8

Wednesday

BOOKS & BEYOND

obert Wilson discusses his new book, "The Explorer King: Adventure, Science and the Great Diamond Hoax, Clarence King in the Old West," in a program sponsored by the Center for the Book, at noon in the West Dining Room. Contact: 707-5221.

Feb. 10

Friday

PRE-CONCERT TALK

Karen Moses of the Library’s Music Division makes a pre-concert presentation at 6:15 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. No tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Feb. 10

Friday

CONCERT

Czech Nonet pays homage to Mozart and Brahms with a performance at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See Feb. 2 concert entry for ticket and contact information.

Feb. 14

Tuesday

POETRY AT NOON

Today’s noontime program features "Love Poems" in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-1308.

Feb. 14

Tuesday

BOOKS & BEYOND

Former Ambassador Richard N. Gardener discusses and signs his book "Mission Italy: On the Front Lines of the Cold War" in a program sponsored by Center for the Book and the European Division, at noon in Dining Room A. Contact: 707-5221.

All Library buildings are closed for the federal Presidents’ Day holiday.

Feb. 21

Tuesday

PRE-CONCERT TALK

Denise Gallo of the Library’s Music Division makes a pre-concert presentation at 6:15 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. No tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

Feb. 21

Tuesday

CONCERT

The Kuijken Quartet performs part two of the "Haydn" Quartets, (part one is Feb. 19 at the National Gallery of Art), at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See Feb. 2 concert entry for contact and ticket information.

Feb. 22

Wednesday

GALLERY TALK

A specialist in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division discusses Benjamin Franklin as a writer and printer at noon in the "American Treasures" exhibition, Southwest Gallery of the Jefferson Building. Contact: 707-9203.

MARCH 2006

March 1

Wednesday

GALLERY TALK

Gerard Gawalt of the Manuscript Division speaks about Benjamin Franklin as a statesman and diplomat at noon in the "American Treasures" exhibition, Southwest Gallery of the Jefferson Building. Contact: 707-9203.

March 3

Friday

CONCERT

The Ensemble Corund presents "A Shakespeare Serenade," an evening of songs based on texts by the bard from Ralph Vaughan Williams, Frank Martin, Edward Elgar and Frederick Delius at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required for this event; they are distributed by Ticketmaster at (301) 808-6900 or (410) 752-1200 and are limited to two per call. Each ticket carries a service charge of $2.75, with additional charges for phone orders and handling. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster.com. Although the supply of tickets may be exhausted, there are often empty seats at concert time. Interested patrons are encouraged to try for standby seats at the will-call desk in the Jefferson Building by 6:30 p.m. on concert evenings.

Contact: 707-5502.

March 8

Wednesday

GALLERY TALK

Judith Gray of the American Folklife Center presents a program on the center’s Omaha Pow-Wow material at noon in the "American Treasures" exhibition, Southwest Gallery of the Jefferson Building. Contact: 707-9203.

March 10

Friday

CONCERT

The Belcea Quartet with tenor Ian Bostridge and pianist Julius Drake perform works by Fauré, Shostakovich and Vaughan Williams at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See March 3 concert entry for contact and ticket information.

March 15

Wednesday

POETRY AT NOON

Today’s noontime program features poems on "Trust and Mistrust" in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-1308.

March 15

Wednesday

GALLERY TALK

John Hébert of the Geography and Map Division discusses the Library’s extensive collection of bird’s-eye-view maps at noon in the "American Treasures" exhibition, Southwest Gallery of the Jefferson Building. Contact: 707-9203.

March 17

Friday

CONCERT

Mezzo-sopranos Margaret Lattimore, Stephanie Novacek and Mary Phillips perform song cycles by contemporary composer-pianists Ricky Ian Gordon and Jake Heggie along with duets and trios by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See March 3 concert entry for contact and ticket information.

March 22

Wednesday

GALLERY TALK

Loras Schissel of the Music Division speaks on the Library’s John Philip Sousa collection at noon in the "American Treasures" exhibition, Southwest Gallery of the Jefferson Building. Contact: 707-9203.

March 24

Friday

CONCERT

The Bach Collegium Japan makes its inaugural appearance in Washington featuring founder-conductor Maasaki Suzuki on harpsichord at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See March 3 concert entry for contact and ticket information.

March 30

Thursday

BOOKS & BEYOND

Historian Gerard Gawalt discusses and signs his book, "My Dear President: Letters Between Presidents and Their Wives," in a program sponsored by the Center for the Book and Manuscript Division, at noon in Dining Room A. Contact: 707-5221.

March 31

Friday

PRE-CONCERT TALK

Stephen Soderberg of the Library’s Music Division makes a pre-concert presentation at 6:15 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. No tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

March 31

Friday

CONCERT

Pianist Robert Taub, soprano Judith Bettina and violinist Curtis Macomber perform works by Milton Babbitt in a 90th birthday concert honoring the Pulitzer Prize winner at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See March 3 concert entry for contact and ticket information.

APRIL 2006

April 5

Wednesday

GALLERY TALK

John Haynes of the Manuscript Division discusses President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points at noon in the "American Treasures" exhibition, Southwest Gallery of the Jefferson Building. Contact: 707-9203.

April 6

Thursday

EXHIBITION OPENS

"The American Violin: From Jefferson to Jazz," a joint venture between the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers and the Library of Congress, is a celebration of historical and modern American violin and bow making. The display features historical American stringed instruments and bows and other musical memorabilia from the Library’s collections. The exhibition is on view from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday, in the Whittall Pavilion through April 20. Contact: 707-4604.

April 6

Thursday

CONCERT

The Turtle Island String Quartet entertains audiences in a concert presented in cooperation with the American Federation of Violin and Bowmakers at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. No tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

April 7

Friday

PRE-CONCERT TALK

Carol Lynn Ward-Bamford of the Library’s Music Division makes a pre-concert presentation at 6:15 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. No tickets are required.

Contact: 707-5502.

April 7

Friday

CONCERT

The Juilliard String Quartet plays the opening concert in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. Tickets are required for this event; they are distributed by Ticketmaster at (301) 808-6900 or (410) 752-1200 and are limited to two per call. Each ticket carries a service charge of $2.75, with additional charges for phone orders and handling. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster.com. Although the supply of tickets may be exhausted, there are often empty seats at concert time. Interested patrons are encouraged to try for standby seats at the will-call desk in the Jefferson Building by 6:30 p.m. on concert evenings. Contact: 707-5502.

April 8

Saturday

SHOWCASE

In collaboration with the 25th anniversary of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, the Library invites the public to view and play the bows and instruments built by federation members from noon to 4 p.m. in the Great Hall. Contact: 707-5502.

April 8

Saturday

CONCERT

Violinist Elmar Oliveira entertains audiences in the second in a series of concerts celebrating the 25th anniversary of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See April 7 concert entry for contact and ticket information.

April 12

Wednesday

GALLERY TALK

Leonard Bruno of the Manuscript Division discusses Benjamin Franklin as a scientist and inventor at noon in the "American Treasures" exhibition, Southwest Gallery of the Jefferson Building. Contact: 707-9203.

April 12

Wednesday

CONCERT

The American Folklife Center presents the first concert in the 2006 Homegrown Concert Series with performers to be announced, at noon in the Coolidge Auditorium.

Contact: 707-5510.

April 19

Wednesday

POETRY AT NOON

Poems to celebrate William Shakespeare’s birthday are featured in today’s noontime program in the Mary Pickford Theater. Contact: 707-1308.

April 19

Wednesday

GALLERY TALK

Carol Lynn Ward-Bamford leads a tour through the exhibition "The American Violin: From Jefferson to Jazz," at noon in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-9203.

April 20

Thursday

EXHIBITION CLOSES

"The American Violin: From Jefferson to Jazz" closes today in the Whittall Pavilion. Contact: 707-5502.

April 20

Thursday

CONCERT

Fiddle and guitar duo Jay Ungar and Molly Mason perform music from the Civil War era, the last in a series of concerts celebrating the 25th anniversary of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See April 7 concert entry for contact and ticket information.

April 21

Friday

PRE-CONCERT TALK

Stephanie Poxon of the Library’s Music Division gives a pre-concert presentation at 6:15 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. No tickets are required. Contact: 707-5502.

April 21

Friday

CONCERT

The Washington Bach Consort presents "Bach Alive! In the Nation’s Library," the second in a series exploring connections between the Baroque master and other choral works found in the Library’s archives, at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. This concert is sponsored by the Elinor Remick Society and the Music Division. See April 7 concert entry for contact and ticket information.

April 22

Saturday

CEREMONY

The Library’s Center for the Book presents the "River of Words" art and poetry luncheon and awards ceremony honoring young artists and poets from throughout the country in the Montpelier Room and Dining Room C; time is to be announced. No tickets or reservations required. Contact: 707-5221.

The London Haydn Quartet with guest clarinetist Eric Hoeprich perform works by Mozart at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. See April 7 concert entry for contact and ticket information.

****************

The Library of Congress occupies three buildings on Capitol Hill. The Thomas Jefferson Building is the original Library of Congress building; it is located at 10 First St. S.E. across from the U.S. Capitol. The John Adams Building is directly behind the Jefferson Building to the east on Second St. S.E. The James Madison Memorial Building, at 101 Independence Ave. S.E., is just south of the Jefferson Building.

When attending events at the Library, allow extra time to pass through Library security.

Request ADA accommodations five days in advance at 707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov.

CONCERTS: Tickets are required for all Library of Congress Music Division concerts. They are available five weeks ahead of the event for a nominal charge of $2.75 per ticket (maximum of two tickets per person), with additional charges for phone orders and handling, from Ticketmaster by calling (301) 808-6900, (410) 752-1200, (800) 551-7328, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by visiting Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets for popular events are claimed quickly, but there are often empty seats at concert time. Interested patrons are encouraged to request standby seats by appearing at the will-call desk by 6:30 p.m. on concert evenings. All concerts are held in the Coolidge Auditorium, located on the ground floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street S.E., at 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted.